Bringing Scripture to Life

from the September 16, 2008 eNews issue

Every day new discoveries are made that help to bring the pages of Scripture to life. Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered several new sections of an ancient wall that once surrounded Jerusalem, located just south of the Old City. Archaeologists have found part of a wall from the Second Temple period as well as a section built during the Byzantine era. This discovery could help scholars more accurately determine the size and layout of the ancient city of Jerusalem.

Israeli archaeologists have also unearthed evidence corroborating the Book of Jeremiah. A completely intact seal impression or "bula" bearing the name Gedaliahu ben Pashur was uncovered in Jerusalem's ancient City of David. It was found just a few meters from the site where a second seal, belonging to Yuchal ben Shlemiyahu, was found three years ago. In the Book of Jeremiah, both men are mentioned as ministers to King Tzidkiyahu. The Bible says these men demanded that the prophet Jeremiah be put to death, because Jeremiah predicted that Jerusalem would fall to the Babylonians and that anyone who did not surrender would either die by the sword or from famine and pestilence.

Meanwhile the Israeli Antiquities Authority has announced that it is planning to make photographs of the Dead Sea Scrolls available on the internet. The Dead Sea Scrolls are one of the most significant archaeological finds in history and have been described as "the most sought-after and examined documents on earth." The 2,000-year-old scrolls, found in the late 1940s in caves near the Dead Sea east of Jerusalem, contain the earliest known copies of the Old Testament. There are several large scrolls still intact as well as about 15,000 fragments that make up about 900 documents.

The announcement has stirred excitement among archaeologists and Biblical scholars. Using special equipment, experts plan to photograph every single fragment of the scrolls from multiple angles. It will take museum workers two years to complete the project. Then the vast collection of highly detailed photographs will be made available to everyone via the world wide web.

Digging Up the Truth

Any archaeological discoveries that appear to substantiate the Biblical account of history undermine the Palestinian cause. Such discoveries underscore Israel's long and rich history in the Promised Land. It is a legacy that Israel's enemies would like to erase. They claim that the idea of a historical Jewish homeland is a hoax – invented to justify Israel's occupation of Palestine.

Yet with each passing year, more new discoveries are made which corroborate Jewish claims to the Holy Land. This explains why Wakf (Islamic Trust) officials, bulldoze sensitive archaeological sites on the Temple Mount with blatant disregard for the treasures buried there. Israeli archaeologists and volunteers have sifted through the piles of ruins discarded by Wakf officials - rubble taken from the Temple Mount to a city garbage dump. Amidst the rubble they have uncovered numerous history-rich artifacts dating back to the First and Second Temple periods.

To learn more about this subject click on the links below. Also, if you have an interest in Biblical archaeology, we encourage you to listen to Chuck Missler and Bob Cornuke's presentation on the Ark of the Covenant titled Seat of Mercy.